For me it depends on what is readily available for free,or cheap.In my area dark hardwoods are hard to come by.I have gotten some Mahogany and Oak from pallet boards.I like Elm from a tree I cut down in my yard, and Cedar is readily available here for cheap so use it some, for a darker wood ,with my Elm or pine which is also lots of in my area.I would love to use exotic dark hardwoods ,but to expensive for me to buy.I bought a 4FT length of Purple Heart for 40 bucks so used it sparingly .

It's really no different than anything else, most species behave in the same way they would as if you were turning a solid piece, there are always exceptions.

The more oily wood (tropicals) are the ones that may give you adhesion issues if you don't clean them well before gluing.

Some woods, like Redheart, Bloodwood and others with a high amount of pigment can bleed into adjoining woods.

Using an extremely hard wood adjacent next to a soft wood (janka scale) can be difficult to turn.

The list goes on and on.

It's all experimentation to a certain degree when dealing with a natural product. There are classic combinations like walnut and maple that look and work well together.IMO, the majority of of information on segmenting has to be experienced.

Be careful with wood from pallets. Many, if not all, have been fumigated with highly toxic insecticides to prevent transporting insects to other regions.

When you cut into or turn the treated wood you are releasing the chemicals into the air where they can be inhaled. If your shop is in the basement of your home (like mine) its even possible that the toxic chemicals can migrate into your living area.

You'll know its too late to do anything when you start growing a purple tail.

Be careful with wood from pallets. Many, if not all, have been fumigated with highly toxic insecticides to prevent transporting insects to other regions.

That scared me, so I did a little googling.Maybe the U.S. does things different,but in Canada this what I found out;But you do have to watch out for nails,embedded rocks and other materials.Or I guess there could have been something toxic spilled on it along the way.

Pallet Myths

There are many rumors circulating about dangers of using wooden pallets in the home because they are pressure treated. They are NOT pressure treated and most pallets in Canada are safe for use in and around the home.

Wooden pallets in manufactured Canada or the States for international trade undergo a pest control treatment called heat treating which involves heating the pallet to minimum core temperature of 56°C for softwoods and 60°C for hardwoods for a minimum of 30 minutes in a kiln. This kills any pests that may have been living in the wood, reducing the risk of cross-border pest contamination. Heat-treated pallets are not harmful to your health.

There is another form of wood treatment called methyl-bromide fumigation. This type of treatment is banned in Canada because it poses a health risk to workers handling the pallets. If you find a methyl bromide fumigated pallet, please do not use it around the home or as firewood, find a waste-removal company who can dispose of it properly. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or